2015 RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Auction Results

A 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet sold for $6,380,000 as the top result at the 2015 RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island classic car auction in Florida. A 1955 Jaguar D-Type, a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider and a 1935 Mercedes Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A achieved over $3 million dollars. Five further cars sold for more than $2 million and three more sold for more than million. Two racing Jaguars performed below expectations.

RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Classic Car Auction 2015

The annual RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island classic car auction was held on March 14, 2015. The auction earned $60 million with a remarkably high 98% sell-through rate.

The following 13 cars sold for more than a million dollar each:

Year

Car

Price ($)

1960

Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet

6,380,000

1955

Jaguar D-Type

3,675,000

1972

Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti

3,300,000

1935

Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen

3,025,000

1931

Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato

2,420,000

1938

Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Cabriolet by Gangloff

2,337,500

1971

Lamborghini Miura SV

2,310,000

1988

Jaguar XJR-9

2,145,000

1967

Shelby 427 ‘Semi-Competition’ Cobra

2,117,500

1953

Ferrari 212 Europa Coupe by Vignale

1,550,000

1930

Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron

1,155,000

1955

Austin-Healey 100S

1,120,000

1956

Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet

1,100,000

Prices include buyers premium. For official prices check with RM Sotheby’s.

Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2015 Sale

Million-Dollar Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2015

1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet

As expected, the 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet was the most expensive car sold at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Sale 2015. It set a new record for a Superamerica at auction and was also by far the best result achieved by any auction house during this year’s Amelia Island classic car week and just less than the Amelia Island auction record $6,600,000 set by a 1937 Delahaye at the RM Auctions 2014 sale.

This car was the third of only seven short-wheelbase Superamerica 400s made by Ferrari and is in its original color scheme of green over red. Although the car is in restored, concourse condition, it has not been shown since completion of its restoration.

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider

RM Sotheby’s third highest result at Amelia Island 2015 was $3,300,000 for a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti. This car in concourse restored condition received a Platinum Award at the 2013 Cavallino Classic. Although more than 1,400 Ferrari Daytonas were built, only 121 were Spiders.

Racing Jaguars at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2015

RM Sotheby’s had two special racing Jaguars on offer at the Amelia Island 2015 sale. Both sold below expectations.

The second-highest price paid at the auction was $3,675,000 for a 1955 Jaguar D-Type in a sale after the hammer came down on a rejected $3.4 million bid. The pre-auction estimate was $3,750,000 to $4,250,000. The same Jaguar was sold by RM Auctions at the Monterey 2013 sale for $3.9 million.

A second racing Jaguar, the 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 that won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1990 also attracted limited interest and sold for$2,145,000, well below the $3-5 million estimate.

Top Mercedes Benz Cars at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2015

A 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen sold for $3,025,000 – the highest result for a Mercedes Benz car thus far this year and the only Mercedes to have sold for more than two million dollar thus far in 2015. The car in a very well maintained condition is one of only 11 know survivors of the 33 Cabriolet As built.

A 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet sold for $1,100,000. In contrast to the more famous 300 SLs, the Sc Cabriolets are actually rare – only 200 were built and only 49 in this particular body style. These cars had similar power to the SL but with less sexy, heavier bodywork and more comfortable suspension were more suitable for comfortable long-distance travel.

A 1961 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for $902,500 – a rare buy for below a million these days.

Other Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2015

The other cars selling for over a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s 2015 Amelia Island sale were:

$2,420,000 for a 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato – a good result for a classic Alfa Romeo in concourse condition and probably a relief after similar cars struggled in Paris in February 2015.

$2,337,500 for a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Cabriolet by Gangloff – a good result for arguably the most elegant car on offer. The Bugatti was the Amelia Island Concourse d’Elegance Best of Show winner in 2012.

$1,120,000 for a 1955 Austin Healy 100S – a good result for a rare racing car that once belonged to Jackie Cooper.

RM Sotheby’s next major auctions will be The Andrew Collection in Forth Worth, Texas on 2 May, where two Ferrari Superamericas will be offer, and then Villa Erba on the shores of Lake Como, Italy on 23 may 2015.

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